USA - Round Mound of rebound getting political

VALLEY (NBA) - Charles Barkley has confirmed his intention to run for governor of Alabama in the future.

The Alabama-born 43-year-old is looking at the prospect of running for the post in 2014 as he first needs to move back to his birth-state from his home in the Valley, Arizona.

"You have to live there seven years, so I'm looking for a house there as we speak," said Barkley, who will be inducted in the Basketball Hall of Fame this week.

"I want to speak for people who can't speak for themselves. America discriminates against poor people. America is divided by economics. If you're born poor white, black or Hispanic you're going to be in a bad neighbourhood. You're going to go to a bad school. That's not right.

"Just living in this world you see the discrepancy between the rich and the poor.

"It's not getting closer. It's just getting wider every year. It's very frustrating for me as a person who started there (poor). I said to myself, ‘Man, if I couldn't have played basketball that would have been me.' You just can't sit back and let that happen. I'm going to keep doing that, speaking out.

"I think I've been really blessed in my life. If I was just to be rich and famous and have a big house and a big car and live happily every after, I think I'd let the big fella down who gave me the gift to get to the Hall of Fame. I truly believe that."

With regards to his political affiliation, Barkley added: "I'm an independent.

"I think Republicans are full of it and Democrats are a little less full of it."

Barkley, nicknamed "Round Mound of Rebound" during his playing days, retired from the NBA in 2000 having played 16 seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets.

A member of the United States' Dream Team in Barcelona, he is one of only four players in NBA history to have recorded 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists in their career.

By PA Sport